Shloka 466
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
सम्मोहयामास स तान् कालान्तकयमोपम: । उस रणदक्षेत्रमें गजारूढ़ होकर युद्ध करनेवाले योद्धाओंके मस्तकोंको अपनी तीखी धारवाली तलवारसे काटते हुए वे अकेले ही क्रोधमें भरकर पैदल विचरते और शत्रुओंके भयको बढ़ाते थे। उन्होंने प्ररयकालीन यमराजके समान भयंकर रूप धारण करके उन सबको भयसे मोहित कर दिया था
sañjaya uvāca | sammohayāmāsa sa tān kālāntaka-yamopamaḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: Ia membuat mereka semua terperangah, tampak laksana Yama, penghabis waktu. Di tengah gelanggang perang ia bergerak seorang diri, murka, berjalan kaki—meninggikan gentar musuh—sambil menebas kepala para kesatria yang bertempur dari punggung gajah dengan pedang bermata tajam. Dengan mengambil rupa mengerikan seperti Maut pada saat pralaya, ia menjerumuskan mereka ke dalam panik dan kebingungan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and confusion can decide outcomes in war: a warrior’s terrifying presence and relentless action can break the enemy’s morale. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s stark portrayal of kṣatriya duty—valor and violence are shown with their psychological and mortal consequences, using Yama imagery to stress the inevitability of death in battle.
Sañjaya describes a single warrior moving on foot in a rage, cutting down even elephant-mounted fighters with a sharp sword. His dreadful, death-like appearance overwhelms opponents, making them panic and lose composure, as if Yama himself had appeared at the end of time.